Minilogue Sequencer

Minilogue sync

Minilogue mod control

Minilogue circuit

Minilogue screen

Minilogue back side

Minilogue voices

Korg has announced a mid-priced four-voice polyphonic analogue synth in the form of the Minilogue.

In a sea of affordable monosynths and reissues, the Minilogue is the first new keyboard-based analogue polysynth from Korg since 1985's Poly-800 MKII, Volca Keys notwithstanding.

With newly developed analogue circuitry, Minilogue's signal chain includes two VCOs, one VCF, two envelope generators into a VCA and an LFO. The synth is also equipped with a variety of modulation types including cross modulation, oscillator sync, and ring modulation. On top of this Minilogue also features a tape-style delay with high-pass filter.

A price-point of under £500 will certainly prove popular, as will the build-quality. The unit features a one-piece aluminium top with a wooden rear panel. Backed up with very sturdy rotaries, the Minilogue certainly does not feel cheap. The inclusion of Korg's Slimkeys may not appeal to some, but they're more playable than your standard mini-key offerings.

To further distance Minilogue from synths of yesteryear, Korg has included an OLED screen that acts as an oscilloscope as well as providing menu feedback. Another tweak to the design of this forward-thinking synth is the positioning of the modulation controller. The switch has been rotated to feel more ergonomic to the performer and it is also possible to assign any parameter to the control.